Where to Eat in Seattle, Washington

Bar Sajor
Matthew Dillon‘s new space, with its windows vaulting skyward and punky-rococo wall hangings, is downright churchlike. Its altar is definitely the wood-burning oven, where rib eyes are burnished to perfection. The rest of the menu celebrates Northwestern bounty: Quillayute River king salmon gravlax on rye, or a cocktail of huckleberries and aquavit. The James Beard Award-winning chef is the first marquee name to arrive in the Pioneer Square district, and with two more spots coming soon, he’s betting big.

Quillayute River king salmon gravlax on rye at Bar Sajor.

MamnoonThe small dishes at Mamnoon, which weave together Syrian, Lebanese, and Persian flavors, will open your eyes to a new spectrum of mezes. Of course, you shouldn’t shirk the silken hummus, served with warm flatbread, but also try okra bathed in sweet-tart tomato sauce, fried cauliflower with walnut sauce, and aggressively spiced lamb kibbeh. The sophisticated room is filled with gorgeous textures.

Miyabi Forty FifthChef
Mutsuko Soma is dedicated to preserving the art of traditional Japanese teuchi soba. She makes each batch of her signature buckwheat noodles by hand, just as she learned in soba school in Tokyo. The springy noodles aren’t just served in classic soups: Try yours seiro style, cold with hot broth on the side: Dipping is part of the fun.

Ba BarWith Monsoon, brother-sister team
Eric and
Sophie Banh brought the city its first swanky Vietnamese restaurant. Their youngest spot, Ba Bar, just steps from Seattle University, lets them loosen up a bit with comfort foods and icy cocktails. Don’t shy from simplicity: Order the lemongrass chicken, with skin roasted to a glossy mahogany. Pho is a must, especially the oxtail version, which delivers superheroic depth. As a nod to the French influence in Saigon, Ba Bar’s ovens also deliver excellent croissants and macarons.

Il Corvo PastaDon’t be surprised if
Mike Easton bursts out of the kitchen to show off handmade pastas or ones extruded from a bronze die. The craft-focused chef became a cult figure when he opened a pop-up in a gelato shop near the Pike Place Market. His new location is now the place for lunches stripped down to the delicious essentials, from rich meat ragùs to bright pestos.

At Il Corvo, each daily special is a genius pairing of sauce and pasta.

Rain Shadow MeatsWhen
Russ Flint opened a second sustainably minded butcher shop in Pioneer Square (the first is in the charming Melrose Market on Capitol Hill), he decided to serve lunch as well. Naturally, the menu is full of lusty, meat-filled sandwiches: succulent cold roast beef with romesco sauce, or spicy mortadella with cheese and olive spread. An unexpected delight? House-made celery soda. This being a working butcher shop, don’t be surprised if you see a side of beef shouldered onto the carving table while you’re eating.

Marination Ma KaiIt can be raucous at this Hawaiian-Korean joint, but swipe your fries through some kimchi tartar sauce and you’ll join the party. Once only a wildly popular food truck, Marination Mobile spawned a permanent home on Alki Beach, and it’s the spot for a summer spree. You’ll get an Instagram-worthy view of Seattle that goes well with a katsu pork sandwich or eggs with homemade Portuguese sausage. End the meal with booze-soaked shave ice and a souvenir jar of chile-kissed Nunya sauce.

(Photos: Kyle Johnson; Illustration: Claire McCracken)

There’s no better time than right now to visit Seattle–and we’re not just talking about the weather. The city’s chefs are tapping into a casually brilliant dining trend that focuses on clean, bright fare made with produce from local farms and briny treasures from the sea. Seattle’s oldest neighborhood, Pioneer Square, is the newest culinary epicenter. But no matter where you wander, there are incredible flavors to pair with all that sunshine.

Power PicnickingThe sun always seems to be shining in late-summer Seattle, meaning now is the time to eat alfresco. Here, a few takeout gems and the parks to enjoy them in.

Little UncleLook for great curry specials (such as beef with marble-size eggplants), and classics like pad thai rai sen made with local tofu at this tiny Thai spot.
Park Pairing: Eat while watching bicycle polo, capoeira, and Hula-Hooping in Cal Anderson Park.

PicnicThe name of this market says it all. The perfect to-go order? A bottle of Washington wine and some charcuterie (try the house-made pork rillettes with pickled onions and brandied currants).
Park Pairing: Catch an open-air concert (or head to the Seattle zoo) at Woodland Park.